If you wake up with a sore jaw, stiff neck or headaches that won’t go away, TMJ could be to blame. TMJ is caused by stress, teeth grinding (bruxism) and other factors that put excessive strain on your temporomandibular joints.
Eating soft foods, applying ice packs and taking over-the-counter medication may provide temporary relief. To find permanent relief, you’ll need a TMJ doctor Houston TX examination.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral Appliance Therapy offers relief from symptoms of TMJ disorders like clicking, popping or grating in the jaw joint (TMJ) and a lock of the jaw. These symptoms often accompany pain in the muscles of the face or head, ringing in the ears or trouble opening and closing the mouth.
These symptoms are caused by a problem with the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), which are located on both sides of your face where the lower jaw connects to the skull. These ball and socket joints have a disc in the center which absorbs the force of your chewing, speaking and opening and closing the mouth.
TMJ disorder can cause chronic headaches, facial pain and jaw tenderness. Non-surgical treatment options for TMJ include ice packs, soft foods and stress management counseling. A dentist who specializes in TMJ and dental sleep medicine can recommend and custom fit an oral appliance to prevent further damage. These appliances can also improve snoring and sleep apnea.
Botox Injections
When injected properly, Botox blocks the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that triggers muscle contractions and causes wrinkles. In the hands of a physician or otolaryngologist with comprehensive training in the anatomy and musculature of the head and neck, there’s minimal risk involved.
TMJ doctor Houston patients benefit from the same Botox injections that are popular for eliminating fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead and around the mouth, because the masseter muscles that control chewing get a lot of exercise in these individuals due to chronic grinding of teeth at night. Botox helps relax these overworked muscles, alleviating pain and discomfort and reducing clenching and jaw movement.
The quick, office-based procedure is a nonsurgical option for those suffering from TMJ symptoms, and it’s particularly beneficial for those who haven’t responded to conservative treatments such as mouth guards and physical therapy. Unlike more invasive surgical procedures, Botox requires no downtime and allows patients to resume their daily activities immediately after treatment.
Physical Therapy
Your TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the complicated anatomical structure that includes the jaw bone (the condyle of the mandible), the bony fossa of your temporal skull, the surrounding muscles and ligaments and even blood vessels. This is an important joint that controls your movement and allows you to chew, speak and eat.
When you have a TMJ problem, it can be frustrating and interfere with your quality of life. The symptoms of TMJ may include a clicking or popping sensation in your jaw, clenching of the teeth, facial pain and neck pain.
Our physical therapists can help. They will evaluate your posture, how your cervical spine-your neck-moves and the articular disc of your TMJ to assess the range of motion. They will also look inside your mouth to see how well your jaw moves. They will ask you to open and close your mouth and clench your teeth to look for abnormalities in the bite occlusion as well as examine your muscles for tension.
Medication
If you are experiencing jaw pain or a clicking sound when you chew, speak or open your mouth, you may have TMJ disorder. TMJ treatment in Houston TX can help you relieve your symptoms and prevent future damage to the temporomandibular joint. Using a combination of techniques, we can identify the underlying cause of your TMD and address it with advanced neuromuscular dentistry treatments.
TMJ disorders affect a complex group of structures including muscles, ligaments, tendons, the jaw joint, and teeth. They can be caused by trauma, injuries or accidents, faulty bite, certain diseases such as arthritis, or a habit like bruxism (grinding and clenching your teeth). Some TMJ disorders involve the temporomandibular joint itself while others are called extracapsular disorders and occur outside the joint. The most important aspect of TMJ doctor Houston TX diagnosis is to determine the underlying cause of your dysfunction. By correcting this, we can deliver the best TMJ treatment to relieve your symptoms. TMJ treatment can also improve your facial appearance and increase your quality of life.
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